The spire once topped St Antholin’s church, it now sits between two facing modern terraces in a housing estate which was originally the site for Round Hill House in Sydenham. The spire was purchased by Robert Harrild after the church was damaged in the storm.

One of the 51 churches rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the great fire of London, the spire is one of a kind and was restored by London Stone Conservation. Heritage of London Trust’s funding enabled the spire to be treated to remove dirt and the thick black sulphation crust that had formed under the circular openings in the spire. The carved elements of the spire were repaired and consolidated, and the entire structure was repointed using lime mortar. The weathervane was then gilded.

The spire is constructed entirely with Portland stone as opposed to most spires being constructed in timber and tiles. The original weathervane showed the heraldic symbol of the Bishop of London, but the current one is a wolf, or potentially dragon’s, head, added in the 19th century. The octagonal spire now sits on a brick plinth.